Notes: Includes plan and German text: Geschichte einer kleinen Periode

...tes in contrast to the interests of profit would be capable of perceiving.

"To each his own": the Grütlians as servants and agents of the bourgeoisie may deceive the people through phrases such as "protection of neutrality."

The Socialists, as fighters against the bourgeoisie, ought to open the people's eyes to the very real danger, proven by the entire history of Swiss bourgeois politics, of being sold out by "their own" bourgeoisie!

III

* ON THE ARTICLE:
"HISTORY OF A SMALL PERIOD IN THE LIFE OF A SOCIALIST PARTY"

END OF FEBRUARY 1917

A.

* PLAN OF THE ARTICLE.

History of a small period—35 days (7.I—11.II), in a small country.

(or the collapse of Zimmerwald[ism] in the Swiss socialist party).

7.I.—Socialist Grimm + social patriots against socialists/workers.

Protest by Platten + Nobs + Näp.

Nobs + Platten surrender [to the?] Grütlians; Afffolter and Schmidt rejection of resolution on defense of the fatherland.

23.I—Referendum = platform of the left.

Furious attack of the center on the platform of the left.

Howling, filth, filth, howling (Grimm + Schneider + A. Schmidt at the head). Huber.

—Afffolter and Schmidt. Rejection of defense of the fatherland. Resolution.

—(Grimm, Schneider, J. Schmidt at the head). Huber. Editor.

HISTORY OF A SMALL PERIOD OF ONE SOC. PARTY

*Nature of this bourgeoisie), than the defense of democracy in the true sense of the word, in contradiction with the interests of profit.

"To each his own": let the Grütlians, as servants and agents of the bourgeoisie, deceive the people with phrases about "defense of neutrality."

And Socialists, fighters against the bourgeoisie, ought to open the people's eyes to the real, proven by the entire history of Swiss bourgeois politics, danger of being sold out by "their own" bourgeoisie!

22.I—Volksrecht. Ultimatum of G. Müller (from the National Council). Ultimatum of Greulich (in article no. 4). On the majority and minority.

26.I article 4.

27.I (Nobs) "does not share the motivation" (of the referendum); Nobs renounces the motives of the referendum! Platten is silent.

31.I—Printed 1.II. Business management. Half-concession.

1.II—Olten (no. 1) (nothing in print).

1.II + article (Platten).

1.II—(article 1) Platten in Volksrecht.

5.II—(article 4) Scheidemann or Liebknecht?

3.II—Grimm "unites" Nobs + Platten (Olten no. 2).

6.II—"Ultimatum" of "J. Baumann". Platten compromised with (4 social patriots).

27.II [sic].

9.II—Publication of new theses. ((Done!))

11.II—Party congress. Apotheosis: erstklassige, feierlichc burial of Zimmerwald[ism]!!!

*—Large article. Editor.

**—Party administration. Editor.

***—Nothing. Editor.

***—This line was written additionally in pencil. Editor.

****—Done. Editor.

*****—Apotheosis: solemn burial of Zimmerwald[ism] of the first rank. Editor.

LENIN COLLECTION

Platten in his 1st article on the Military question (1.II): ..."Certainly, in the commission one missed the clear head and the fearless, consistent Zimmerwald fighter who advocated for shelving the military question until after the war"..."The military question is not merely a dispute of opinions about this question, but a direction-setting for the further development of the party, the struggle against opportunism in the party, the decision against the reformists and for the revolutionary class struggle."

In the 4th article (6.II): ..."Between the politics of Scheidemann and of Karl Liebknecht our party congresses must decide......"

II.

HISTORY OF A SMALL PERIOD OF A SOCIALIST PARTY.

January 7, 1917: Session of the Party Executive of the socialist party of Switzerland. Leader of the "Center," B. Grimm, allies himself with the social-patriotic leaders and postpones the party congress (which was to address the military question and had been set for February 11, 1917) to an indefinite time.

Against this, Nobs, Platten, Näp, and others protest and vote.

Greatest indignation against this postponement among circles of class-conscious workers.

January 9, 1917. Publication of the resolutions of the majority and the minority. In the draft of the majority there is no clear statement against the defense of the fatherland (Afffolter and Schmidt were opposed to it), but in § 3 there is still a demand: "Obligation of the party representatives in parliament, with principled motivation, to reject all military demands and credits." This must be well remembered!

January 23, 1917. The Zurich "Volksrecht" prints the justification of the referendum. In this justification the significance of the postponement is characterized sharply, but completely truthfully, as a victory of the Grütlians over Socialism.

A storm of indignation from the leaders against this referendum. Grimm in the "Berner Tagwacht," Jacques Schmidt (Olten) in the "Neue Freie Zeitung," F. Schneider in the "Basler Vorwarts."

HISTORY OF A SMALL PERIOD OF ONE SOC. PARTY

Platten in his first article on the military question (February 1):..."Certainly, one felt the absence in the commission of a clear head and a fearless and consistent Zimmerwald fighter who stood for shelving the military question until the end of the war"..."The military question is not merely a struggle of opinions around this question, but a definite direction in the further development of the party, a struggle against opportunism in the party, a stand against the reformists and for class struggle."

In the 4th article (February 6): ..."Our party congresses must choose between the politics of Scheidemann and Karl Liebknecht......"

C.

HISTORY OF A SMALL PERIOD IN THE LIFE OF A SOCIALIST PARTY.

January 7, 1917. Meeting of the administration of the socialist party of Switzerland. The leader of the "center," R. Grimm, unites himself with the social-patriotic leaders and postpones for an indefinite time the party congress (at which the military question was to be discussed and which had been set for February 11, 1917).

Against this, Nobs, Platten, Näp and others protest and vote.

The greatest indignation against this postponement among circles of conscious workers.

January 9, 1917. Publication of the resolutions of the majority and the minority. In the draft of the majority there is completely absent a clear statement against the defense of the fatherland (Afffolter and Schmidt were against this), but in § 3 there is still a requirement: "Obligation of party representatives in parliament to reject, with principled motivation, all military demands and credits." This should be well remembered!

January 23, 1917. The Zurich "Volksrecht" prints the justification of the referendum. In this justification the postponement is sharply, but completely correctly, characterized as a victory of the Grütlians over Socialism.

A storm of indignation of the leaders against this referendum. Grimm in the "Berner Tagwacht," Jacques Schmidt (Olten) in the "Neue Freie Zeitung," F. Schneider in the "Basler Vorwarts," then, besides these "center people,"

and the social patriot Huber in the St. Gallen "Volksstimme,"—all of them heap abuse and threats upon the initiators of the referendum.

R. Grimm stands at the head of this shameful campaign, in particular he tries to intimidate the "youth organization" and promises to move against it at the next party congress.

Hundreds and again hundreds of workers in the German as well as in the French Switzerland eagerly sign the referendum petitions. Näp telegraphs to Münzenberg that a cantonal administration will most likely be ready to support the referendum.

January 22, 1917. "Berner Tagwacht" and "Volksrecht" print the declaration of Nationalist Gust[av] Müller. Müller presents a formal ultimatum to the party, declaring in the name of his group ("our group" he writes) that he will renounce his mandate as National Council member, because the "principled rejection of military credits" is unacceptable to him.

On January 26, 1917, Greulich in his 4th article in the "Volksrecht" repeats the same ultimatum to the party, declaring that he will "of course" renounce his mandate if the party congress accepts point 5 of the majority resolution.

On January 27, 1917, E. Nobs declares in an editorial note ("On the Referendum") that he does not share in any way the justification of the referendum.

Platten is silent.

On January 31, 1917, the administration decides to convene the party congress for June 2 and 3, 1917. (It should not be forgotten that the administration has already once decided to set the party congress for February 11, 1917, but this decision was revoked by the party executive!).

On February 1, 1917, an incomplete Zimmerwald Conference takes place in Olten. Representatives of organizations take part in it, those organizations which were invited to the conference of the Entente Socialists (in March 1917).

Radek, Zinoviev, Münzenberg, a member of the "International" (Spartacus Group in Germany, of which K. Liebknecht was a member), publicly scourge R. Grimm and declare him a "politically dead" man because of his alliance with the social patriots against the socialist working class of Switzerland.

The press stubbornly remains silent about this conference.

HISTORY OF A SMALL PERIOD OF ONE SOC. PARTY

On February 1, 1917, Platten publishes his first article on the military question. Two statements are particularly to be noted here:

First, Platten writes literally: "Certainly, in the commission one missed the clear head and fearless consistent fighter of Zimmerwald, who advocated for shelving the military question until after the war."

It is not difficult to guess against whom this anonymous attack is directed.

Second, Platten in the same article states on principle:

"The military question is not merely a struggle of opinions about this question, but a direction-setting for the further development of the party, the struggle against opportunism in the party, the decision against the reformists and for the revolutionary class struggle."

On February 3, 1917, there takes place a private conference of center people (Grimm, Schneider, Rimathe and others), at which Nobs and Platten also participate. Münzenberg and Dr. Bronski are invited, but decline to participate.

It is decided to "amend" the majority resolution in such a way that it is substantially worsened and becomes a "center resolution," especially in that point 5 disappears and is replaced by a completely unclear, nebulous phrase.

On February 6, 1917, there takes place the general assembly of the s.d. party of the city of Zurich. Most important agenda item: Executive election.

Assembly is poorly attended, especially by workers.

Platten proposes postponement. Social patriots and Nobs against. Postponement is rejected.

The election takes place. When it becomes known that Dr. Bronski has been elected, the social patriot Baumann declares in the name of the 4 members of the executive that he refuses to work with Dr. Bronski.

Platten proposes to accept (submit to) this ultimatum insofar as he (in a completely undemocratic and unlawful manner) declares the entire election null and void. This proposal is adopted!!!

On February 9, 1917. Publication of the "new" majority resolution. Signatures: "center people," Grimm, Rimathe, Schneider, Jacques Schmidt, etc., then Nobs and Platten. The resolution is substantially worsened and point three, as stated, disappears.

Not a trace of the struggle against opportunism, against reformism, of the firm resolution to follow precisely the tactics of Karl Liebknecht!

It is a typical center resolution, where "general," allegedly "theoretical" verbiage predominates, practical demands are intentionally formulated so weakly and nebulously that one can hope that not only Greulich and G. Müller, but even Baumann-Zurich will perhaps consent to withdraw their ultimatum and... to amnesty the party.

Sum total: Zimmerwald[ism] is solemnly buried in the "swamp" by the leaders of the Swiss party.

Addendum.

St. Gallen "Volksstimme" (where very often Huber = Rohrschach writes) on January 25, 1917:

"Against this shamelessness (i.e., the justification of the referendum) it suffices to establish that the postponement proposal (on January 7) was put forward by Comrade Grimm and energetically supported among others by Comrades Manz, Greulich, Müller, Afffolter, Schmidt."

"Basler Vorwarts" of January 16, 1917, reports that the postponement proposal (January 7) was put forward by the following comrades: "Grimm, Rimathe, Studer, Münch, Lang = Zurich, Schneider = Basel, Keel = St. Gallen and Schnurrenberger." (sic!!? Probably a typographical error? should read: Schneberger?)

Workers have every reason to be grateful to both newspapers for providing these names!..

---

1 The drafts of the resolution of the majority and minority of the commission were published under the common title: "Antraue der Militarkommission" in No. 7 "Volksrecht" of January 9, 1917.

2 In No. 19 "Volksrecht" of January 23, 1917, in the section: "Aus der Partei" ("From the Party") there was published without any commentary an appeal from the initiative group organizing the referendum under the title: "Das Referendum gegen den Parteivorstandbeschluss ergriffen" ("The Referendum Against the Party Executive Decision Has Been Initiated"). The appeal was signed by A. Bucher.

3 In No. 19 "Berner Tagwacht" of January 23, 1917, in the section: "Parteimachriehten" ("Party News") there was published an anonymous editorial note: "Das Referendum," containing a sharp attack against the referendum and against the newspaper "Volksrecht," which had published the appeal calling for the referendum. In addition, the note cited articles from three other Swiss socialist newspapers listed by Lenin. We were unable to obtain these newspapers. Apparently Lenin drew his material from this same note. The persons indicated by Lenin were editors of the corresponding newspapers.

4 Greulich's fourth article: "Zur Landesverteidigung" ("On National Defense") was published in No. 22 "Volksrecht" of January 26, 1917. The third point of the majority proposal, against which Greulich presented an ultimatum, reads: "Obligate all party representatives in parliament to reject, with principled motivation, all military demands and credits."

5 In No. 23 "Volksrecht" of January 27, 1917, in the section: "Aus der Partei" ("From the Party") there was published an anonymous editorial note: "Zum Referendum" ("On the Referendum"), with sharp criticism of the "Appeal" calling for the referendum (see note 2).

6 The Institute has no materials or records of the meeting in Olten.

7 In No. 27 "Volksrecht" of February 1, 1917, there was published a leading article by F. Platten: "Die Militarirage" ("The Military Question"). Continuations of the article were published in No. 28 of February 2, in No. 30 of February 5, and No. 31 of February 6, 1917.

8 The draft of amendments to the proposal of the majority of the commission was published in No. 34 "Volksrecht" of February 9, 1917: "Abanderungsantrage zu der Resolution der Mehrheit der Militiirkommission" ("Proposals for Amendments to the Resolution of the Majority of the Military Commission").